The hum of the precinct lab faded into background noise as Barry focused inward. The familiar blue interface of the system shop glowed in his mind's eye. With over 17,000 credits, he wasn't just browsing; he was shopping with purpose.
His eyes scanned past the flashy enhancements—the [Earthquake Punch] and [Telekinesis]—and went straight to the high-end inventory. He found what he was looking for under [DC Universe Items].
[Mother Box - 800 Credits]
Advanced, sentient Apokoliptian technology capable of interdimensional travel, energy manipulation, and universal translation.
The price had skyrocketed since he last looked, but it didn't matter. He needed two. One to serve as the indestructible, living heart of the new Waverider. The other… well, Star Labs could always use a near-omniscient, reality-warping computer.
"System," he thought. "Purchase two Mother Boxes."
[Purchase confirmed. 1600 Credits deducted. Remaining Balance: 15,800 Credits. Items have been placed in your personal dimensional storage.]
A satisfied smile touched his lips. The parts for the Waverider were already fabricated and waiting in a phased pocket dimension at Star Labs. And Gideon… his Gideon… was already born.
He'd created her over many late nights, his Sage Force-enhanced intellect allowing him to write code that was more like poetry, algorithms that could learn and feel. This Gideon wasn't just a database with a voice. She was a true digital consciousness, built on the original framework but evolved. She could understand sarcasm, feel curiosity, and even experience a form of joy. And deep in her core programming, woven into her very being, was one unbreakable law: she could never, under any circumstances, disobey a direct command from a member of the Allen family. It was a failsafe against any future… complications.
His phone buzzed on the desk, shattering his focus. Noon. He'd been at it for hours.
He stood, stretching. Time to go. He had a promise to keep and parts to assemble. He dialed Patty.
"Hey," he said when she picked up. "I'm heading to Star Labs. Got some big projects to work on. Wanna see the inner sanctum?"
Her voice was bright with excitement. "Are you serious? Yes! I'll meet you out front."
"No need," Barry said with a grin she couldn't see. "Stay right where you are."
He found her at her desk, just putting her phone down. "Ready for the fastest commute of your life?" he asked.
Before she could answer, he swept her up in his arms. The world dissolved into a whirlwind of color and sound. There was a sensation of incredible speed, a gentle pressure, and then it was over.
Patty stumbled a step as he set her down, her eyes wide. One second, the drab walls of the precinct. The next, they were standing in the vast, circular Cortex of Star Labs, sunlight streaming through the massive central window.
"Whoa," she breathed, clutching his arm for balance. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that."
The Cortex was a hive of controlled activity. Cisco and a young woman with determined eyes were hunched over a holographic design table, displaying a sleek, silver-and-blue suit.
"…and the aerodynamic plating here will help with wind resistance at high velocities," Cisco was explaining, gesturing animatedly.
At another terminal, Caitlin was helping Billy with his science homework, pointing at a complex diagram on a tablet. "So you see, the energy conversion isn't linear, it's exponential..."
And standing near the main console, arms crossed and looking as perpetually unimpressed as ever, was Harry Wells.
Patty's grip on Barry's arm tightened. Her face paled. "Barry," she whispered, her voice strained. "Is that...? But he's... he's dead. That's Harrison Wells."
Barry followed her gaze and chuckled softly. "No, that's Harry. Harrison Wells from Earth-Two. Totally different guy. Less murderous, more... grumpy."
As if on cue, Harry glanced over, his eyes narrowing behind his glasses. "Allen. Did you bring a tourist?"
"Harry, this is Patty," Barry said, guiding her forward. "Patty, this is Harry Wells. And that's his daughter, Jesse."
Jesse looked up from the suit designs and offered a warm smile. "Hi! Cisco's building me a suit. It's... a long story."
Patty just nodded, still looking shell-shocked. "Right. Earth-Two. Of course."
Cisco bounded over, his energy infectious. "Patty! Welcome to the nerd cave! Finally decided to show her the magic factory, Barry?"
"Something like that," Barry said, his eyes drifting toward the back, where his private workshop and the newly arrived Mother Boxes waited.
Patty, finally finding her footing, looked around in awe. "It's... bigger than it looks on the news." Her eyes then fell on Billy, who gave her a small, shy wave from behind his textbook. "And you have a... kid in here?"
"That's Billy," Caitlin said warmly. "He's family."
"Okay," Patty said, taking a deep breath. She looked at Barry, then at the incredible, impossible people around her. "Okay. This is my life now." A slow, genuine smile spread across her face. "This is actually... really cool."
Barry squeezed her hand. "I'll give you the grand tour in a bit. But first, I've got to go check on something. A new... acquisition."
He left her in Cisco's capable, chatty hands and made his way to his workshop. On a reinforced pedestal, two objects sat side-by-side. They were smooth, bronzed cubes, intricate, living patterns shifting across their surface like breathing circuitry. The Mother Boxes. He could feel their power, a low, cosmic hum that vibrated in his teeth.
One was destined to become the heart of the Waverider. The other...
He placed his hand on the second box. "Gideon."
The air in the room shimmered. A warm, feminine voice, filled with genuine affection, echoed from the very walls. "Hello, Barry. I sense a significant upgrade to my core processing is available. I must admit, I'm quite excited."
Barry smiled. "I bet you are. Let's get you integrated. We've got some buildings to do."
Back in the Cortex, Patty listened to Cisco's rapid-fire explanation of Jesse's new powers, her head spinning but her heart full. She was in the inner circle. She knew the secret. And as bizarre and terrifying as it all was, standing here in the bright, bustling heart of it all, it just felt right.